Mechanism for transferring knitted webs



June 25, 1929. 1.. N. D WILLIAMS MECHANISM FOR TRANSFERRING KNITTED WEBS Filed Feb. 25, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet HQ l- ATTORNEYS.

INVENTOR: $011115 1TB. Williams, BY A? WITNE%SY@ Q June 25, 1929.

L. N. D. WILLIAMS MECHANISM FOR TRANSFERRING KNITTED WEBS Filed Feb. 23, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES:

INVENTOR: ZouzlsJY. 11 m'llzkmzs, By (r17 ATTORNEY June 25, 1929 WILLIAMAS 1.718.327

MECHANISM FOR TRANSFERRING KNITTED WEBS Filed Feb. 23, 1923 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 WITNESSES: I N V EN TOR:

170m m1 mamm; I BY My ATTORNEYS.

June 1929 L. N. D. WILLlAMS 1.718.327

MECHANISM FOR TRANSFERRING KNITTED WEBS Filed Feb. 25, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 WITNESSES: IN VEN TOR:

yfla 6? Louis Hi1 m'liiams,

I BY

ATTORNEYS.

J n 2 1929- N D. WILLIAMS 1.718.327

MECHANISM FOR TRANSFERRING KNITTED WEBS Filed Feb. 25, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG K WITNESSES: 1N VEN T OR:

A TTORNEYS.

June 25, 1929.

L. N. D. WILLIAMS MECHANISM FOR TRANSFERRING KNITTED WEBS Filed Feb. 23, 1923 FICT'. 1M1

8 Sheets-Sheet 6 W I TNESSES:

INVENTOR: laazlslifi. M/Z'Zizkzms,

/ ATTORNEY June 5, 1929. L. N. D. WILLIAMS 1.718.327

MECHANISM FOR TRANSFERRING KNITTED WEBS Filed Feb. 25, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 W1 TNESSES: INVENTOR:

Louis JED Mi'lliams;

June 25,- 1929. N. D. WILLIAMS MECHANISM FOR TRANSFERRING KNITTED WEBS Filed Feb. 23, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet INVTQR: Louis IZD. WzZZzam-s, By W TTORNEYS.

Patented June 25, 1929.

UNITED sTATEs LOUIS N. D. WILLIAMS, OF OGONTZ, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO SCOTT & WILLIAMS,

INOOBRORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

PATENT OFFICE.

A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

MECHANISM FOR TRANSFERRING KNITTED WEBS.

Application filed February 23, 1923. Serial No. 620,587.

This invention relates to knitting mai chines, and more particularly to the transfer of knitted web from the needles to the points of a transferring element.

An object of the invention is to provide in a knitting machine, and more particularly a circular knitting machine, mechanism for accurately positioning a transfer ring upon the needle cylinder preparatory to effecting transfer of the stitches, in combination with certain devices embodied in the machine for coordinating its functions with that of the transferring element, so as to automatically effect transfer of the web from the needles to the transfer points, and avoid the errors of adjustment which invariably attend a stitch transferring operation when conducted solely b hand. The present invention while capab e of general use, is designed more particularly for use in connection with a split transfer ring adapted, after the transfer thereto of'a stocking, for insertion in a looper, to close the toe pocket by looping the edges together; the specific form of looper and transfer ring forming the subject matter of my prior patents and applications hereinafter referred to.

In addition to the foregoing this invention comprehends' improvements in the details of construction and arrangement of the correlated parts, to be hereinafter set forth and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I is a view in side elevation of a conventional form of stocking knitter showing only suflicient of its parts to illustrate the manner of association therewith of my invention for automatically transferring'knitted web.

Figure II is a view of the stocking knitter and web transferring mechanism in end elevation. a

Figure III is a View in side elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the transfer ring support and operating mechanism.

Figure IV is a view in top plan of the parts shown in Figure III, disclosing the transfer ring support in lowered position.

Figure IX is a detail view in enlarged section taken on the line IXIX of Figure VIII, of a tripping means forming part of the tube reversing mechanism.

Figures X and XI are detail viws in side elevation of the tripping means shown by the preceding figure, and disclosing the parts in two difierent positions assumed during operation of the mechanism.

Figure XII is a detail view in elevation of a cam drum and associated parts as viewed from the left of the illustration in Figure III of the same parts.

Figure XIII is a view in horizontal section taken on' the line XIII-XIII of Figure XII.

Figure XIV is a detail view in vertical sectiiprn taken on the line XIVXIV of Figure Figure XV is a view in side elevation of a modified form of mechanism for up 1 ing and removin the transfer ring to and mm the needle cy inder.

Figure XVI is'a fragmentary view in top plan of a transfer ring support forming art of the modified mechanism of the immediate preceding figure; and

Figure XVII is a view in top plan of a webholder ringembodying means to retract the web-holders.

Proceeding to a detailed description of the machine, 1 represents the needle cylinder of a stocking knitter having a projectin base flange 2 mounted to freely rotate in 1118 bed plate from one side of which extends a bracket. 3 having upwardly projecting, spaced posts 4 afl'ording bearing for a transverse shaft 5. A spur pinion 6 fixed to the shaft 5, meshes with a segmental gear 7 loosely mounted upon a shaft 8. The gear sector 7 is formed with an arm 9 carrying an antifriction roller 10 which operates in a peripheral cam groove 11 in an auxiliary cam drum 12, the latter being mounted so as to freely rotate on a vertical shaft 13 depending from the bracket 3. The auxiliary drum 12 has also two other cam grooves 14 and 15 whose functions will be hereinafter described.

Fixedly mounted on the shaft 5 is a lever 16 with an annular boss 17-on one end which serves as a guide and carrier for a point ring *18. indicated in dotted lines in Figure III which is slipped over said boss and held thereto by a means to be described later. As the shaft 5 is rotated by the gear sector 7, the point ring carrier 1 will be swung from a vertical position shown in Figure III to a horizontal position shown in Figure IV in which latter position the points thereof registen with the needles of the knitting machine and align with the stitches.

While the point ring carrier 17 is in lowered position over the needles. a lug 20 on the end of the lever 16 opposite the. ring carrier "will be in position for engagement with a lateral projection 21 at the upper end of a vertical rod 21 which is slidablv guided in the bracket 3 and is under control of the cam slot 15 in the auxiliary cam drum 12: so that vertical motion can be imparted to said rod at the proper moment. The purpose of this rod 21 is to lock the point ring carrier 17 in its horizontal position and at the same time to release the point ring 18 from said carrier as hereinafter noted. Downward movement of the ring carrier 17 is limited by engagement of a stud 23-forming part of the ring carrier-'- with any convenient stationary part of the knitting machine, so as to retain the carrier 17 in proper position while the stitches are transferred to the point ring 18 from the needles. The ring carrier 17 is held against vibration .by virtue of the pressure maintained by the cam 12 upon the rod 21 and resisted by the stud 23. Forming part of the point ring 18 is an annular needle guide 25, mounted upon rods 26 passing through said point ring and connected to an annular member 27 as shown in Figure III; said member 27 being. at this ;.into proper registry with the needles. The

guide 25 may rest upon the web holders ,or sinkers/ which will serve to steady the guide during the transfer. The point ring 18 is then slightly lowered or given movement relative to its carrier 17 sufiicient to cause its points to penetrate the stitches upon the needles. Such projection or slight movement of the point ring 18 is effected by the cam slot 14 in the auxiliary cam drum 12. The cam slot 14 acts upon an antifriction roller 30 carried at the lower end of a rod 31 which is vertically guided in the bracket 3 and is provided at its upper end with a. vertically ad'- justable cap 32, the purpose of which is to engage a projecting lug 33 on one end of a lever 34, the latter, as shown in Figure IV, being fixedly mounted upon one end of an axial pivot shaft 35 carried by the lever 16. The opposite end of the lever 34 cooperates with an arm 36 fixed upon the other end of the shaft 35 (see Figs. II and IV). the latter and the lever 34 carrying pins 37, which enter slots in the carrier 17 and overlap the upper edge of the point ring 18, so that the latter can be discharged or lowered away from the carrier 17 in order to cause its points to penetrate the stitches upon the needles as before'described. The lug 33 will then'be in position for engagement by the cap 32 on the rise of the 7 pin 42 at one end that is normally maintained within an opening in the ring 18 through the medium of a leaf spring 43. The lever 41 is actuated to withdraw the pin 42 immediately after the carrier'17 has been swung to its horizontal position. This is eifected through engagement of the top of the rod 21 with the perpendicularly turned end 41 of the lever 1 when said rod is shifted vertically to lock the carrier as previously explained.

The point ring 18 having been lowered, the stitches are ready to be transferred to the points in any one of a number of different ways one of which will presently be explained. After the impaled stitches have been cast from the needles to the transfer points, the carrier 17 is restored to the position shown in Figure I leaving the point ring 18 on the knit ting machine, from which it is afterwards removed by hand with the knitted web upon it. The ring 18 may then be employed to transfer the web to another knitting machine or to a machine for closing a toe pocket wherein one-half of said stitches are doubled with the other half and united as for example in accordance with the method set forth in my United States Letters Patent No. 1.194.802.

The auxiliary cam drum'12 performs its functions during one complete rotation, and such rotationis imparted thereto by means which may be briefly described as follows:

about the post 13 and carrying a swinging pawl 46 at its outer end to engage the teeth of a ratchet wheel 47 formed upon the upper face of the auxiliary cam drum 12. One of the teeth of the ratchet wheel 47-indicated specifically at 48-is longer than the others;

and whenever this long tooth is in range of the pawl 46, rotating movement of the auxiliary cam drum 12 will be arrested, oscillation of the arm 45 continuing but the pawl 46 failing to engage the next adjacent tooth of the ratchet wheel 47 in the rearof the long tooth 48.

When the moment arrives for action of the auxiliary cam drum 12, forward movement sufiicient to carry the long tooth 48 from under the. pawl 46, is imparted to the auxiliary cam drum 12 from the main orpattern drum of the knitting machine, indicated at 49, in the following manner:

Secured to the bottom of the auxiliary cam drum 12 is a toothed segment 51. Figure XIII; and mounted to swing freely about the lower end of the shaft 13 is an arm 52 which is connected tq the arm by a rod 53 for movement therewith. The arm 52 carries at its outer end a spring pressed pawl 54 whose tendency is to engage the .'teeth of the rack 51, but which is normally prevented from doing so by means of a curved guard plate 55 in front of said rack. V

This guard plate 55 has associated with it a movable supplemental end section 56 which, when retracted from the ath of the pawl 54 will permit the latter, uring each oscillation of the arm 52, to engage a tooth of the rack 51 so as to impart thereto movement sufficient to carry the long tooth 48 of the ratchet wheel 47 ahead of the pawl 46 and thus permit the latter to pick the ratchet wheel 47 until the long tooth 48 again comes into position, that is to say, until one complete rotation has been imparted to the auxiliary cam drum 12.

Movement of the supplemental guard section 56 into and out of'guarding position is effected by a cam. 57 of the pattern drum 49 Fig. XII, said cam having a recess 58 to permit drop of a roller 59 carried by an arm 60 which is fixed to a rockshaft 61 suitably journalled in the frame of the machine and carrying another arm 62 with which the movable section 56 of the guard plate is formed.

From Figures I and II it will be noted that rocking movement is imparted to the arm 45 from an oscillating plate mounted to swing freely on the main driving shaft 40 of the machine beyond the pulleys thereon, the latter comprising the usual two tight high and low speed pulley 63. 63, and the loose pulley 64 ordinarily employed during the idle periods of the machine but which I employ for the purposes of impartingoscillatory motion to the plate 70 through interposed instrumentalities as follows:

Fixed to the loose pulley 64 is a smaller pulley 65 (Fig. I) which, by means of a belt 66, drives a pulley 67 mounted on a stud shaft 68 which is carried by a bearing 69 provided at the lower portion of the machine frame. Rotatable with the pulley 67 is a spur pinion 71 which meshes with a spur wheel 72 freely rotatable upon a fixed stud. The .spur wheel 72 is provided with an eccentrically mounted crank pin 73 which, by means of a link 74, is connected to a similar pin 75 eccentrically mounted on the face of the plate 70. In this manner rotative motion of the gear 73 is converted into oscillatory motion of the plate 70. Another pin 76 eccentrically mounted on and projecting from the rear face of said plate 70 is connected by means of a link 77 to an arm 7 8 fixed to one end of a rock shaft 79 which is mounted in bearings on the fixed frame of the machine and coordinated by bevel gears 80 and 81 wit-h a shaft having an arm 82 whose outer end is connected by means of a rod 83 to the outer end of the above mentioned arm 45. Motion of the oscillating plate 70 causes pawling of a ratchet wheel 70 fixed to the main shaft 40, by means of a pawl 70. One of the teeth of the ratchet wheel is provided with a lateral notch 70'. A guard finger 84 is pivotally mounted on the frame of the machine with its upper end controlling the pawl 7 0 with respect to its active cooperation with the ratchet wheel 70", and the guard finger 84 in turn is controlled by means of a pair of successively operating cams 85, 85fixed to the shaft 86 which carries the cam 87 for actuating the belt shifter.

Owing to the extent to which the rock shaft 79 projects beyond the bearing on the fixed frame of the machine, it may be advisable, in some cases, to provide an outer bearing for said shaft, in order to hold it in its proper axial position.

Before the point ring 18 is lowered upon the needle cylinder it is necessary to raise the yarn feed carrying ring indicated at 90 from the normal lowered position to the raised position shown by full lines in Figure IV and by dotted lines in Figure II, such movement being effected in the following manner. reference being had more particularly to Figures I, II, V, VI and VII. The yarn feed ring 90 is loosely mounted upon a rock shaft 91 which is journalled in suitable hearings on the fixed frame. This rock shaft 91 has affixed to it an arm 92 which is connected by means of a link 93 to the above mentioned arm 7 8.- A brace rod 94 serves to connect the bearings for said rock shafts 79 and 91, so as to prevent relative displacement of the same.

The yarn feed rim. 90 is formed with arms 95 through the medium of which said ring is loosely mounted upon the rock shaft 91 as above intimated. An arm 96 depends in fixed engagement from the shaft 91 and carries a pivoted trigger lever 97 of angular formation, one of whose arms has a projecting pin 98 and the other a laterally bent end 99 which projects beneath a pin 100 extending from the outer face of one of the supporting arms 95 of ring 90. Normally, the trigger lever 97 occupies the position shown in Figure VI, and during its movement with the arm 96 the bent end 99 of the trigger is free to pass the pin 100 without engaging the same. When the moment arrives for lifting of the yarn guide ring 90, a lug 101 (see Figure II) on the pattern drum 49 acts upon the lower end of and 102 to raise the same. The rod 102 carries at its upper end a pivoted lever 103, the latter being normally held in a horizontal position by means of a spring 104, connected at its ends to the lever 103 and rod 102 there by serving to retain said lever in contact with a bearing lug 107 carried by the arm 102.

When the rod 102 is lifted, the pivoted lever 103 will engage the pin 98 and shift the trigger 97 from the position shown in Figure VI to that shown in Figure VII, bringing the bent end 99 of said trigger into position to contact with the pin 100; so that on the next oscillation of therock shaft 91 the yarn guide ring 90 will be lifted to the dotted line position of Figure II.

Referring to Figures VIII to XI, I have disclosed a mechanism to actuate a web turner similar to that shown and described in United States Letters Patent No. 1,377,239, granted me under date of May 10, 1921 and including a link 39 depending from the rod 31 (Fig. I) and connected to the web turning mechanism in a manner to be described.

The mechanism further includes a rock shaft 108 which is actuated from the above mentioned spur wheel 7 2 (Fig. II) by means of a linkage arrangement 109 functioning to convert rotary motion of said spur wheel into oscillating motion of the rock shaft 108. The latter shaft 108 carries an arm 110 in fixed engagement, said arm in turn pivotallycarrying a swinging trigger 111 provided with a laterally bent end to engage a pin 112 projecting from a lever 113 which is loosely supported at one end upon the shaft 108 and is provided with a link connection at its other end to the lifter rod 102 of the web turner. The rock shaft 108 loosely supports an arm 1.14 which is provided with a laterally proj ecting finger 115 to engage the trigger 111 to shift the latter into position to engage the pin .112 when the-moment arrives for operation of the web lifter; said trigger 111 being normally maintained in inoperative position by means of a spring 116. The arm 114 is connected by means of the link 39 to the rod 31.

During the period of movement of the point ring 18 from elevated to transfer position the driving belt 66 is embraced about the loose pulley 64 and is held in this position by reason of the engagement of a lug 117 (see Figure I) on the shipper lever with a latch 118 pivoted for vertical movement on the frame of the machine. WVhen, however, the point ring 18 is in fully lowered position and it is desired to again start the knitting machine for the purpose of casting the stitches from the needles to the points of the ring, said latch 118 is raised so as to release the lug 117 and the shipper lever is then moved by means of the spring usually provided to shift the belt to either of the pulleys 63 or 63, so that rotating motion is then imparted to the machine.

The parts for effecting automaticrelease of the shipper lever are shown in Figures I, II, and III and are as follows The free end of the latch 118 is connected by a link 119 to one arm of a lever 120, suitably pivoted on the main frame of the machine and carrying at its opposite end a post 121 for the pivotal support of a trigger 122 having a beveled end and normally held in contact with a stop pin 123 carried by the post by means of a spring connected thereto and suitably anchored as shown.

Projecting from the face of the above mentioned'gear sector 7 is a pin 124. When the gear sector 7 is being moved counter-clockwise in depressing the point ring 18 to transfer position, the pin 124 engages the back of the trigger 122 pushing the same out of its way, said-trigger being restored to upright position again by the spring as soon as the pin 124 has passed. After the carrier 17 has placed the point ring 18 in transfer position the gear sector 7 is moved in a clockwise direction. The point ring carrier 17 is thereby elevated, the pin 124 then contacting with the beveled upper end of the trigger 122 forcing the latter downwardly so as to rock the lever 120 and thereby raise the latch 118 from engagement with the lug 117 and thus permit the belt shipper lever to shift the belt 66 from the loose pulley 64 to either of the tight pulleys 63 or 63 to initiate rotating movement of the needle cylinder 1.

It is important that when the point ring 18 is applied to the needle cylinder 1 the needles of the latter be in proper position to register with the points, and I therefore pro-' vide means for effecting adjustment and locking of the needle cylinder 1 at that time, as shown in Figure XIV. The base flange 2 of the needle cylinder 1 is formed with a vertical opening 125 for the reception of the conically pointed end of a bolt 126 which is normally held out of the opening by means of an encircling coiled spring 126 active against a washer carried by said bolt. This bolt 126 is depressed by means of an arm 127 which is pivotally mounted upon a post 128 stationarlly mounted and forming a guide for a vertically sliding pin 129 whose lower end bears upon the arm 127 and whose upper end bears against an eccentric disk 130 fixed to the transverse rock shaft 5.

When the shaft 5 is rocked to apply the point ring 18 to the needle cylinderl the eccentric disk 130 will function simultaneously in an obvious manner to lower the bolt 126 into the opening 125 in the base flange 2 of said needle cylinder. Therefore, if the needle cylinder 1 is not in its exact proper position, sufficient backward or forward movement will be imparted thereto by virtue of the pointed end of the bolt 126 in seeking a complete insertion to bring the cylinder 1 into such position and lock it there, just prior to the bringing of the quill points adjacent the needles thus ensuring proper registry of the needles of the machine with the points of the point ring 18 and maintaining them in such registry during the transfer of the stitches.

Before the stitches can be stri ped from the needles'it is necessary to withdraw all of the sinkers or web-holders, and for this purpose I may employ the means disclosed in my pending application for United States Letters Patent, filed February 17, 1923,

I bearing Serial No. 619,600, and shown in the drawings of the present a lication see Fi ure XVII. pp g indicated at 140 and are guided for radial movement in the web holder ring 141. The sinkers or web holders 140 are formed with upwardly projecting ends which enter a raceway in the ring 141, for engagement by movable web-holder projecting cams 142 and 143, and an immovable web-holder retracting cam 144. An arcuate plate 145 is mounted on the web holder ring 141 for a limited amount of circumferential move-i ment and is formed with a tangential slot 146 which receives a pin extending from the cam 142. A swinging plate 147 is pivotally mounted upon the arcuate plate 145 and is similarly formed with a tangential slot 148 receiving a pin extending from the cam 143. The plate 147 is normally swung outwardly by means of a leaf spring 149 having anchorage upon the arcuate plate 145 and its free end bearing against a pin depending from said plate. The arcuate plate 145 is shifted to accomplish movement of the cams 142, 143, through the medium of a link 150 provided with a downwardly projecting pin 151 designed to engage the aforesaid swinging arcuate plate. A latch 152 is pivotally mounted upon the top of the web holder ring 141 to drop across the end of the arcuate plate 145 and prevent shifting movement thereof until released through the action of a shiftable inclined spring 153, which is carried by a link 154. The links 150 and 154 The sinkers or web holders 'are are respectively actuated by means of hell cranks 155 and 156 which are provided with connected push rods 157 and 158 respectively, depending in proximity to the pattern drum 49 for actuation by means of a cam 159 assigned to the rod 158 and a pair of cams 160 and 161 for successively actumechanism which is accomplished as in the usual manner by means under the control of the pattern drum 49 to shift the belt 66 to the loose pulley 64. The belt shifter will be held in this position by the latch 118 which slips over the lug member 117. Just before the shiftin of the belt 66 as noted, the cam lug 101 (1 igure II) on the pattern drum 49 raises the lifter rod 102-in readiness for effecting withdrawal of the yarn feed ring 90; the cam 160 on said drum raises the rod 157 which through coordinated interposed parts already explained causes swingin of the plate 147 (Figure XVII) to shift the $111ker on web holder cam 143 inward; while the cam 85 Figure II) retracts the guard finger 84 there y permitting the pawl to engage the ratchet wheel 70. With these preliminaries prearranged, and the belt 66 on the loose pulley 64, rotation of the latter is immediately communicated through the belt transmission 65, 66 and 67, to the gearing '71, 72 thereby causing the plate 70 to oscillate. As a result the drive shaft 40 and with it the needle cylinder 1 is rotated by action of the pawl '70 upon the ratchet wheel 70, said pawl being detained in the tooth 70 at the last pick to ensure progression of the cylinder 1 for exactly one complete revolution, the cam d rum 87 (Figure II) having in the meanwhile been rotated to shift the cam 85 beyond the province of the guard finger 84. In the course of this revolution of the cylinder 1 the yarn feed rin 90 is withdrawn from the needles, and the fabric loops or stitches held by the needles, dilated or enlarged for better reception of the transfer quills or points. Immediately subsequent to the events just related, action of the auxiliary cam drum 12 is initiated by virtue of the roller 59, (see Figure XII) entering the notch 58 whereupon the guard member 56 is lowered and the pawl 54 permitted to engage the teeth '51. It will be remembered that oscillatory motion of the plate 70 is also transmitted to the shaft 7 9 and in turn imparted to the rod 83 through the medium of the gears 80 and 81 and arm 82.

Because of the long tooth 48 such movement of the rod 83 is ineffective to progress the ratchet 47 until the supplemental guard and 56 is lowered in the manner just described. The cam drum 12 is now rotated sufiiciently to pass the long tooth 48 whereupon pawling of the ratchet wheel 47 begins under the action of the pawl 46 and rotation of said drum ultimately lowers the point ring carrier 17 by virtue of the cam slot 11 in the manner previously described. The cam slot 14 then becomes effective to cause depression of the point ring 18 so that the points may penetrate the loops, while the web turner, by reason of being coordinated with the same actuating mechanism is projected at the same time to eject the web through both the needle cylinder and said point ring. Continued rotation of the auxiliary cam drum 12 will return the carrier to its upper position leaving the point ring 18 on the needle cylinder 1, and in thus returning the pin 124 carried by the gear sector 7 will engage the trigger 122 and by riding over its inclined end will force the adjacent end of the lever 120 downward and thus release the latch 118, permitting the belt shifter to move the belt 66 from the loose pulley 64 to the tight pulley 63- for imparting rotary movement to the knitting mechanism. The knitting cams are then again introduced preparatory to the transfer of the stitches. At the same time, the sinkers or web holders are withdrawn under the control of the pattern drum 49 which is effective to shift the link 154, first, to release the latch 152. The link 150 is then shifted again, beyond its previous shifted position, through the medium of the cam 161, so as to shift the arcuate plate 145 and thus withdraw both web-holder retracting cams 142 and 143, so that the web holders may now be moved and retained in outermost position by the retracting cam 144. Rotation of the cylinder 1, without the yarn being fed thus causes the fabric to be pressedv off so that it may subsequently be removed from the needles. The belt 66 is thereupon again returned to the loose pulley64 by virtue of the belt shifting cam 87 and the needle cylinder 1 again stepped around, (the knitting cam having been withdrawn as before during the last portion of the rotative movement of the needle cylinder), in the manner previously described for a full revolution to level the needles in preparation for removal of the point ring 18. The point ring 18 may now be lifted off by hand and transferred to another knitting machine or a looper. The web-holders 140 previously withdrawn are restored immediately upon the starting of the knitting mechanism to knit a new web...

While movement of the point ring carrier '17 by a swinging mechanism is my preferred construction it is not obsolutely essential to the proper embodiment of my invention; and

in Figure XV, I have shown a construction embodying a carrier for the point ring operable by rectilinear instead of curved motion. In this modified construction a standard 130 is erected on the base flange 2 of the machine to serve as 'a guide fora laterally moving slide 131 to which motion at the proper moment is imparted from the groove 15 of the cam drum 12 through the medium of a bell ,crank lever 132. The point ring carrier 17 is formed upon the forward end of the slide 131. The projecting of the points of the point ring 18 so as to receive the stitches from the needles of the knitting machine is effected by means of the rod 31 actuated by the groove 14 of the cam drum 12 engaging a lug 33 extending laterallyfrom one end of the lever 34 fixed to one end of the pivot shaft 35, as in the former construction, and having a projecting pin 3.6 which acts upon the rear edge of the point ring 18 to depress the same at the proper moment.

In this modification the locking'bolt 126 is depressed at the proper moment by the action of a bell crank lever 133 which is under control of the groove 11 of the cam drum 12 through the medium of an interposed bell crank lever 134.

There is a special type of knitting machine intended for the production of welted tops on the legs of hosiery (see Patent 1,282,958, October 29, 1918) which machine has a ribbing dial with needles and actuating mechanism co-operating with the cylinder needles during the production of the welt, but so mounted as to be movable out of such cooperative relationat other times.

I When my invention is employed in connection with a machine of this type, care should be taken to lock the needle dial in its proper circumferential position when it is moved out of co-operative relation with the needle cylinder, so that, when such relation is restored, the dial needles will correctly alternate with the cylinder needles.

The main purpose of my invention being to effect, by automatic means, the various' movements of the parts necessary for the transfer of stitches and to eliminate the possibility of error which occurs when these operations are performed by hand, it will be evident that the hereinbefore described invention can be employed in connection with other than circular knitting machines, while the mechanical details of the various features involved may be varied in many ways without departing from the spirit of my inventionas set forth in the claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. The combination with the needles of a knitting machine, and a seriesof transfer points, of automatic mechanism for supporting said transfer points and for bringing the transfer points simultaneously into appropriate relation with the needles to effect transfer of stitches.

2. The combination with the needles of a knitting machine, and a transfer point structure, of automatic mechanism for supporting said point structure and for moving the same to bring the transfer points simultaneously into appropriate relation to the needles to effect transfer of stitches.

3. The combination with the needles of a knitting machine, and a transfer point structure, of automatic mechanism for supporting said point structure for movement toward and away from the needles and for bringing the transfer points simultaneously into appropriate relation to the needles to effect transfer of stitches.

4. The combination with the needles of a knitting machine, and a transfer point structure, of automatic mechanism for supporting said point structure located normally to one side of the needles and adapted to move the point structure bodily and bring the transfer points simultaneousl into appropriate relation to the needles or effecting transfer of stitches.

5. The combination with the needles of a knitting machine, and a series of transfer points, of automatic mechanism for supporting the transfer points and for bringing them into appropriate relation to the needles for the transfer of stitches, and automatic mechanism to move the needles during approach of the transfer points so as to ensure the aforesaid appropriate relation of the ,transfer points and needles.

6. The combination with the needles of a knitting machine, and a series of transfer points, of automatic mechanism for supporting the transfer points and for bringing them into appropriate relation to the needles for the transfer of stitches, and mechanism adapted to automatically shift the needles during approach thereto of the transfer points to ensure proper registry, as well as to lock said transfer points against movement subsequent to registry with the needles.

7. The combination with the needles of a knitting machine, a series of transfer points, and a arn feeder ring, of automatic mechanism or withdrawing the yarn feeder ring from the needles, and a coordinated mechanism to subsequently apply the transfer points to the needles in appropriate relation thereto for the transfer of stitches.

8. The combination with the needles of a knitting machine, a series of transfer points, and a yarn feeder ring, of automatic mechanism for withdrawing the feeder ring from the needles, coordinated mechanism to subsequently apply the transfer points to the needles in appropriate relation thereto for the transfer of stitches, and pattern mechanism controlling said mechanisms for successive operation.

9. The combination with the needles of a knittin machine, and a transfer point structure, o automatic mechanism to apply the transfer point structure to the needles in appropriate relation thereto for the transfer of stitches, a stop means to limit the degree of approach of the pointstructure to the needles, and means forcibly urging the point structure against the resistance of the stop means to hold the point structure against movement.

10. The combination of the needle carrier of a knitting machine with a transfer point structure, a movable carrier therefor, and means for imparting movement to said carrier so as to move the same into position to apply the pointstructure to the needles of the machine, said means comprising a cam drum and a pivotally mounted lever one arm of which is controlled by said cam drum and the other arm is in operative connection with said carrier, and means for rotating said cam, drum.

11. The combination of the needle carrier of a knitting machine with a transfer point structure, a swinging carrier therefor, and automatic means for imparting swinging movement to said carrier, said means comprising a shaft having a spur pinion thereon, a lever having a segmental rack engaging said pinion, a cam drum which imparts movement to said lever, and means for rotating said cam drum.

12. The combination of the needle carrier of a knitting machine with a transfer point structure, a movable carrier therefor, automatic means, including a cam drum, for imparting movement to said carrier, and means for rotating said cam drum, said latter means comprising a swinging pawl-carrying arm, a ratchet wheel on the cam drum and means for vibrating said pawl-carrying arm.

13. The combination of the needle carrier of a knitting machine with a transfer point structure, a movable carrier therefor. automatic means, including a cam drum, for im- )artim movement to said carrier and means for rotating said cam drum. said latter means comprising a swinging pawl-carrying arm, a ratchet wheel on the cam drum, said ratchet wheel having a long tooth for arresting'action of the pawl, and means operated from the pattern drum of-the machine for imparting movement to the cam drum to carry' said long tooth beyond the range of the pawl.

14. The combination of the needle carrier of a knitting machine with a transfer point structure, a movable carrier therefor. automatic means, including a cam drum, for imparting movement to said carrier, and means for rotating said cam drum, said means comprising a swinging pawl-carrying arm. 1 ratchet wheel on the cam drum having a long tooth for arrcstingaction of said pawl, and means for imparting mo vement to the drum to carry said long tooth beyond the range of the pawl, said means comprising a toothed segment, a swinging arm having a pawl for engaging said segment, a guard plate for normally holding the latter pawl out of engagement with the segment, said guard plate having a movable section for releasing the pawl and permitting it to engage the segment, and means operated by the pattern drum of the 10 machine for shifting said movable section into and out of position to act upon the pawl.

15. The combination of the needle carrier of a knitting machine with a transfer point structure, a movable carrier therefor, automatic mechanism for imparting movement to said carrier, and coordinated mechanism for restricting further movement of the carrier when the same is in position to apply the .points to the needles.

2 16. The combination of the needle carrier 7 of a knitting machine with a transfer point structure, a movable carrier therefor, automaticmeans for imparting movement to said carrier to apply the points to the needles, and

means for then projecting said points so'as to impale the stitches carried bysaid ineedle's,

'- said latter means-comprising a lever ,pivotally mounted upon said carrier one arm vof said leverbe'ing operative connection w th said point structure, a cam drum adapted to impart movement to the other arm of said lever,

and means for rotating said cam drum. 1 17. The combination of the needle cylinder of a knitting machine with a point ring, a movable carrier therefor, automatic means foriimparting movement to said carrier to apply the points to the needles, a yarn feeding ring co-operating with the needles of the machine during the knitting operation, and

40 means for raising said yarn feeding ring out" of such co-operating position before. the movement of the point ring into operative relationv with said needles,-s'aid latter means comprising a rock shaft, means for rocking 4 the same, an arm on said shaft, a lever pivotally mounted on said arm,'a pin on said yarn feeding ring, and means adapted to act upon one arm of said lever to swing the other arm thereof into position to strike against said pin as said arm is oscillated by said shaft.

18. The combination of the needle carrier of a knitting machine, a transfer point structure, automatic means for moving said point structure into such position to cooperate with the needles, and automatic means for moving the needle'carrier into position for registering its needles with said points, said latter means comprising a beveled member adapted to enter a beveled opening in said needle carrier, and. means actuated by the movement of said point structure for causing said beveled member to enter said beveled opening.

19. The combination'of the needle, carrier of a knitting machine,.atransfer point struc-' ture, automatic meansfor moving said point member to enter said beveled opening.

structure into such position as to co-operate with the needles, and automatic means for moving the needle carrier into position for registering its needles with said points and locking it in such position, said latter means 7 comprising a beveled member adapted to enter a beveled opening in said needle carrier, and means actuated by the movement of said point structure for causing said beveled 20. In a knitting machine for knitting a tubular web, means for turning the Web inside out, and automatic mechanism for operating the turning means.

21. In a knitting machine for knitting a tubular'web, means for turning the web inside out, automatic mechanism for operating the turning means, and means for timing the operation of said automatic operating. mechanism,

22. In a knitting machine for knitting a tubular web, means for turning the web inside out, automatic mechanism for operating the turning means, and means controllable by the pattern drum to initiate operation-of said automatic operating mechanism.

, 23. In a'knitti'ng machine for knittin a tubular-web, automatically actuated mec aism for turningthe web inside out, and a timing means for coupling the turning means to a movable part of the knitting machine at the proper-moment to turn t-he web.

24:. In a knitting machine for knitting a tubular web, means for turning'the web inside out, and means operable by the loose pulley to actuate the web turning means.

'25.- In a knitting machine for knitting a tubular web, means for turning the web 1nside out, means operable by the loose pulley to actuate the web turning means, and a timing means to couple thewebturning means and the loose pulley operated-means to turn the web at the proper moment;

26. Inv a' knittin machine for knitting a tubular web, a rod for turning the webinside out. a member with connection to the loose pulley for vibrating said member, and a trip means controlled by the attern drum to engage the vibrating mem er with the rod to move the latter at the proper moment for turning the web.

27'. In a knitting machine for knitting a tubular web, including a movably mounted yarn guide ring, means for turning the web inside out, anoperatin mechanism actuated 120,

' 28. In a knitt'ngmachine including-adrive means and coordinated mechanism for effecting ai-ltomaticstoppage afterthe completion of-a knitting operation, the combination'of automatically actuated auxiliary means for subsequently rotating the needle cylinder to level the needles for transfer.

29. In a knitting machine having tight and loose pulleys with coordinated mechanism for automatically shifting the belt to the loose pulley after completing a knitting operation, the combination of automatically actuated auxiliary means coordinated with the loose pulley for subsequently rotating the pcedle cylinder to level the needlesfor trans- 3(). In a knitting machine having tight and loose pulleys with coordinated mechanism for automatically shifting the belt to the loose pulley after completion of a knitting operation, the combination of automatically actuated auxiliary means for subsequently rotating the needle cylinder needles for transfer including a ratchet wheel fast on the pulley shaft, an oscillating pawl, and means coordinated with the loose pulley for actuating the pawl to pick the ratchet wheel.

31. In a knitting machine having drive pulleys with coordinated mechanism for effecting automatic stoppage after completion of a knitting operation, the combination of automatically actuated auxiliary mechanism for subsequently rotating the needlecylinder to level the needles for transfer, and means to limit such supplemental rotation to a single revolution.

32. In a knitting machine having fast and loose drive means with coordinated mechanism for effecting automatic stoppage after completion of a knittin cycle, the combination of automatic auxi iary' mechanism for subsequently rotating the needle cylinder to level the needles for transfer including a ratchet wheel fast on the drive shaft, a pawl, a guide controlling action of the pawl with respect tothe ratchet wheel, and mechanism operable during action of the guide in disengaging the pawl to retain the same in engagen'ient with the ratchet wheel at a predetermined point in the cycle of movement of the latter until the desired extent of rotation has been accomplished prior to disengagement ofthe paw 33. In a knitting machine having fast and loose drive pulleys with coordinated mechanism for effecting automatic stoppage upon completion of a knitting operation, the combination of automatic auxiliary mechanism for subsequently rotating the needle cylinder to level the needles for transfer including a pawl, a guide controlling the pawl, and a ratchet wheel fast on the driving shaft and having a lateral notch in its pawl engaging face. said notch functioning to retain the pawl therein to ensure full extent of the ratchet wheel movement before release by the guide.

34. In a knitting machine, means operable subsequent to a knitting operation to step to level the around the needle cylinder for the purpose of leveling the needles, a movable carrier for a point ring, mechanism to lower the carrier and automatically apply the point ring to the needles, and a coordinated time controlled means to actuate said needle cylinder progressing means and said carrier lowering mechanism in proper sequence.

35. In a knitting machine. means operable subsequent to a knitting operation to progress the needle cylinder step by step for the purpose of leveling the needles. means to elevate the yarn guide ring,a movable point ring carrier, and coordinated time controlled means to automatically actuate the needle leveling, yarn guide ring elevating means and the point ring carrier in the order named.

In a knitting machine, means operable Subsequent to a knitting operation to progress the needle cylinder step by step for the purpose of leveling the needles, means to elevate the yarn guide ring, a movable point ring carrier, means to withdraw the web-holders to permit the stitches to pass, and a time controlled means to autonmtically actuate said elements successively in the order named.

37. In a knitting machine, means operable subsequent to a knitting operation to progress the needle cylinder step by step for the purpose of leveling the needles, a movable yarn ring guide, means to elevate the latter, a movable point ring carrier, means to withdraw the web-holders to permit the stitches to pass, means to turn the knitted web inside out, and time controlled means to actuate said operating elements successively in the order named.

38. In a. knitting machine, the combination of a point ring carrier, means for lowering the carrier including a pawl and ratchet mechanism, the main shaft, an intermittently operable means to step around the main shaft, and means to transmit such intermittent motion to said pawl.

39. In a knitting machine the combination of the loose and tight pulleys and the belt shifting means, a movable point ring carrier to lower a point ring on the needles, releasable means to retain the belt on the loose pulley, and means operable by the carrier in returning to elevated position to release said retaining means.

40. In a knitting machine having a yarn guidering, normally idle, mechanism therefor operating and time controlled means to automatically connect the operating mechanism with said yarn guide ring to move the same away from the needles in preparing the machine for transfer.

41. In a knitting machine, a yarn guide ring, an operating mechanism therefor normally having an idle oscillatory motion, and time controlled means to effectively connect the operating mechanism with the yarn guide ring to elevate the latter during an oscillatory period of said operating mechanism in preparing the machine for transfer.

42. In a knitting machine, a yarn guide ring, an operating mechanism therefor nor- 5 mally having an idle oscillatory motion, and

means controlled by the pattern drum to effectively connect the operating mechanism to 

